NEW DELHI: Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years by winning the fifth and final Test by six wickets against an Indian team deprived of their captain and star bowler Jasprit Bumrah at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The hosts chased down the 162-run target just after lunch on the third day after earlier wrapping up India’s second innings in quick time for 157.

Australia won the series 3-1 after victories in Adelaide and Melbourne, to go with a nervy, yet successful, run-chase in the final innings in Sydney. India won the first Test at Perth and the third Test at Brisbane was a draw.
Among the former cricketers who expressed their disappointment over the series defeat was Mohammad Kaif, who said India needs to build a Test team.
Talking on his official X handle Kaif said, “On 23rd February India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in Champions Trophy) and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India want to team the World Test Championship then we will have to make a Test match team, will have to learn to play on a turning track, in Australia we will have to learn to play on seaming tracks. The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks, will have to practice on seaming tracks, otherwise we will not be able to win.”
The victory in Sydney also enabled Australia to book their spot in a second straight World Test Championship final where they will play the already-qualified South Africa at Lord’s in June.
Kaif continues, “India lost 1-3, and I think this is a wake-up call, because now we have to pay our attention towards Test cricket. It’s not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault. All players get the chance to play Ranji Trophy, but it gets tiresome for the players and they prefer rest over playing Ranji Trophy. They don’t play Ranji Trophy, they don’t play practice matches then how will they become better players? It’s tough to play on turning tracks in India and tougher to play on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa. So if you don’t practice well, WTC will keep eluding you. What has happened, it has happened for the good and now Team India needs to work hard in Test cricket.”

After the defeat against Australia, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had urged all senior players to play domestic games and show their “commitment” towards red-ball cricket.
“I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game, if they are available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket,” Gambhir said.
“As simple as it can get. If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players that you want in Test cricket,” Gambhir added.